Removable shelf

ABSTRACT

A shelf device adapted to be removably attached to a support extending at any angle in a vertical plane, comprising: a table, a retaining plate secured to one side of the table, a clamp carried by the table, and means carried by the table for moving the clamp toward and away from the retaining plate for clamping the support therebetween.

I Umted States Patent 1 13,580,191

[72] Inventor Thomas M. McDonnell [56] References Cited 11 N. 4th Ave, Maywood, II]. 60153 UNITED STATES PA NTS Appl 15350 1 189 098 6/1916 Hall l08/152X [22] Filed Man21970 451 Patented May 25, 1971 FOREIGN PATENTS 163,687 6/1955 Australia 108/152 Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell Attorney-Richard W. Carpenter [54] REMOVABLE SHELF Chums 8 Drawmg ABSTRACT: A shelf device adapted to be removably at- [52] US. Cl 108/152 tached to a support extending at any angle in a vertical plane, [51 Int. CL A4711 5/00 comprising: a table, a retaining plate secured to one side of the [50] Field of Search 108/46, 47, table, a clamp carried by the table, and means carried by the 49, 152; 5/332; 21 l/ 107; 248/230, 245, 221; table for moving the clamp toward and away from the retain- 297/135, 170 ing plate for clamping the support therebetween.

P -1mm HAYZSIHYI $580,191

SHEET 1 UF 2 Attorney PATENTEU M25871 3,580,191

' sum 2 OF 2 Inventor Thomas M. W Donnell Attorney an article of the type described, of self-contained clamping.

means including a vertical plate and a horizontally movable clamp that is rotatable in a vertical plane to clamp a support member against any portion of the plate.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from an examination of the following description and I drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shelf device embodying features of the invention being shown attached to a vertical support member;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear side elevation taken on line 4-of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is avertical section taken on line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front side elevation with the shelf device being shown attached to a support member inclined at an angle relative to the vertical; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views similar to FIG. 2 but with the shelf device being shown attached to different shaped support members.

It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, certain elements have been intentionally omitted from certain view where they are illustrated to better advantage in other views.

Turning now to the drawings for a better understanding of g the invention, it will be seen that the novel shelf device, in-

dicated generally at S, is shown as attached to a support which is in the form of a vertically extending pole, indicated generally at P. As will be explained later in the specification the device may be clamped to supports of other shapes and which extend in directions other than vertical.

Shelf device S includes a relatively flat, preferably horizontally disposed table or body element 10 having a cylindrical channel or bore 12 extending completely laterally therethrough from front to rear.

Table 10 may be of any desired contour, although for illustrative purpose the body in the drawings is shown as having a generally round contour, with a flat rear surface portion, as at 14, to accommodate the permanent attachment of a relatively thin, flat, preferably circular retaining plate or disc element 16 which may be secured to body 10 by a pair of screws 18.

Plate 16 has upper and lower portions extending above and below table 10 and may also be provided on its rear surface with a cushioning coating or pad, indicated at 19.

Also carried by table 10, and spaced rearwardly from the rear face of retaining plate 16, is a clamp 20 which is in the form of a concavely shaped bar or bracket 22. Bar 22 may also be provided with a cushioning coating or pad 24 on its front surface which is opposed to for cooperation with the rear surface of plate 16.

Clamp 20 is carried by and connected to table 10 for movement toward and away from plate 16 by means of a long bolt or screw element 26 extending through a hole 28 in clamp bar 22 with its head 30 secured against the rear face of clamp bar 22. Bolt 26 is disposed to extend through hole 17 of plate 16 and bore 12 of the shelf table 32 with the opposite end of the bolt being threadedly received within a rotatable sleeve or collar 34 disposed within bore 12 adjacent the front side of shelf table 10.

At its forward end sleeve 34 may be provided with a fitting or contoured portion 36 adapted for engagement with a separate removable Key K which may be in the form of an Allen wrench" or a conventional screwdriver.

Disposed in bore 12 at the rear of sleeve 34 is a bearing or washer 38 interposed between the sleeve and the offset portion or shoulder 40 provided in bore 12.

Thus, it will be apparent that, as sleeve 34 is rotated by Key K, clamp 20 is moved toward or away from plate 16 to clamp su port pole P therebetween.

t will be noted that clamp bar 22 IS preferably L-shaped to present a forwardly facing concave surface or pocket 23 adapted to cradle a round (FIG. 2) or' square (FIG. 7) pole P or a flat board (FIG. 8) against plate 16.

The primary area of novelty of the device resides, however, in the provision of the retaining plate 16 with portions extending both above and below table 10, and clamp 20, which is rotatable in a vertical plane. Thus, the cooperation between plate 16 and clamp 20 permit the shelf device to be removably clamped to a pole or other support member which extends vertically, horizontally, or at any other angle, in a vertical plane.

Iclaim:

1. A display shelf device adapted to be removably connected to a support extending at any angle in a vertical plane, comprising:

a. a horizontal table; I Y

b. a vertical retaining plate secured against one side of said table, and having upper and lower portionseittending above and below said table;

c. a clamp carried by said table rearwardly of said retaining plate, and movable toward and away from said retaining plate;

(I. means carried by said table for moving said clamp toward and away from said retaining plate to clamp said support therebetween;

e. said clampbeing rotatable through an arc of substantially 360 in a plane parallel to the plane of said support for alignment with said support.

2. A shelf device according to claim 1, wherein said moving means includes a screw element having one end operatively connected to said clamp and having the other end extending through an opening in said table and being threadably connected to a collar rotatably mounted in said opening.

3. A shelf device according to claim 2, wherein said collar may be rotated from the front side of said table to move said clamp toward and away from said plate.

4. A shelf device according to claim 2, wherein said opening presents a forwardly facing shoulder, and wherein said collar is positioned forwardly of said shoulder.

5. A shelf device according to claim 1, wherein said retaining plate is generally round.

6. A shelf device according to claim I, wherein said clamp is contoured to clamp different supports of varying shapes.

7. A shelf device according to claim 1, wherein opposed surfaces of said plate and clamp are provided with cushioning surfaces.

8. A shelf device according to claim I, wherein the circumferences of said plate is at least as great as the circumference of the path of rotation of said clamp.

9. A display shelf device adapted to be removably connected to a support, comprising:

a. a horizontal table presenting a vertical rear surface;

b. a clamp carried by said table rearwardly of said surface and movable toward and away from said surface;

c. means carried by said table for moving said clamp toward and away from said surface to clamp said support therebetween;

d. said means including a screw element having one end operatively connected to said clamp and having the other end extending through an opening in said table and being threadably connected to a mating screw element rotatably mounted in said opening.

10. A shelf device according to claim 9, wherein said clamp is rotatable through an arc of substantially 360 in a vertical plane for alignment with a support which extends at any angle in a vertical plane. 

1. A display shelf device adapted to be removably connected to a support extending at any angle in a vertical plane, comprising: a. a horizontal table; b. a vertical retaining plate secured against one side of said table, and having upper and lower portions extending above and below said table; c. a clamp carried by said table rearwardly of said retaining plate, and movable toward and away from said retaining plate; d. means carried by said table for moving said clamp toward and away from said retaining plate to clamp said support therebetween; e. said clamp being rotatable through an arc of substantially 360* in a plane parallel to the plane of said support for alignment with said support.
 2. A shelf device according to claim 1, wherein said moving means includes a screw element having one end operatively connected to said clamp and having the other end extending through an opening in said table and being threadably connected to a collar rotatably mounted in said opening.
 3. A shelf device according to claim 2, wherein said collar may be rotated from the front side of said table to move said clamp toward and away from said plate.
 4. A shelf device according to claim 2, wherein said opening presents a forwardly facing shoulder, and wherein said collar is positioned forwardly of said shoulder.
 5. A shelf device according to claim 1, wherein said retaining plate is generally round.
 6. A shelf device according to claim 1, wherein said clamp is contoured to clamp different supports of varying shapes.
 7. A shelf device according to claim 1, wherein opposed surfaces of said plate and clamp are provided with cushioning surfaces.
 8. A shelf device according to claim 1, wherein the circumferences of said plate is at least as great as the circumference of the path of rotation of said clamp.
 9. A display shelf device adapted to be removably connected to a support, comprising: a. a horizontal table presenting a vertical rear surface; b. a clamp carried by said table rearwardly of said surface and movable toward and away from said surface; c. means carried by said table for moving said clamp toward and away from said surface to clamp said support therebetween; d. said means including a screw element having one end operatively connected to said clamp and having the other end extending through an opening in said table and being threadably connected to a mating screw element rotatably mounted in said opening.
 10. A shelf device according to claim 9, Wherein said clamp is rotatable through an arc of substantially 360* in a vertical plane for alignment with a support which extends at any angle in a vertical plane. 